An appropriate expenditure
Published 7:09 pm Wednesday, March 16, 2011
While local governments should be fiscally conservative when it comes to providing taxpayers’ money on projects and proposals of special-interest groups, there should be some exceptions.
One such exception should be the proposal to erect a sign at Veterans Park that designates the park on East Third Street in Washington as a place that honors veterans, living and dead. A group of veterans organizations and others want to erect such a sign. They anticipate a budget of just more than $37,000 for the project.
They’ve asked Beaufort County and the City of Washington each to contribute $10,000 toward the project. It’s a request that should be granted for at least two reasons. First, the requested amount from each local government is a small price to pay to honor and memorialize those who put on the uniforms of their nation and served to protect and defend our freedoms and way of life. Second, there is a need for a sign to identify the park for what it is č a memorial to veterans.
George H. Schryer’s remarks to the City Council earlier this week drive home the need for such a sign.
“As a veteran, I’m kind of embarrassed and I’m kind of upset that there’s no indication of what that park is designated for. I had a lot of people ask me, when we did have the wall here … where was Veterans Park,” Schryer said. “They didn’t know that was Veterans Park. And when I told them, they said, ‘Oh, that’s the one with all the flags there.’ Yeah, that’s what’s there. I think the veterans of Beaufort County deserve better.”
He’s right. Beaufort County’s veterans deserve better.
Garbo Tetterton was right, too. Tetterton, about 25 to 30 years ago, began the effort that resulted in the existing Veterans Park complex coming to fruition. Tetterton also said Beaufort County’s veterans deserved better. He worked tirelessly to provide them what they deserve.
The veterans groups and others behind the sign project already have $4,500 in hand. They should have no trouble in raising the money needed for the sign.
This is one special-interest project the county and city – and other municipalities in the county – should help fund.
Some veterans gave their all. Considering that, it would be proper to spend taxpayers’ dollars on a public park that honors the sacrifices of veterans and their families.